Game apparatus.



M. J. MERTZ.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1916:

Patented July 18, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

amwwlioz M. J Miami abtomeg mc "0mm. nuns no. rwamumc. wAsHmc un. A c.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLEDMAR. 22. I916.

[o oo M. J MERTZa Patented July 18, 1916.

M. J. Mar- 12 atboznmz rm: NORRIS PETERS ca, Pnomurno, w4snlNcmN, o c

M. A MERTZ. GAME APPARATUS.

' APPucArlo a FILED MAR. 22, I916. 1 1,1 91 695. Patented J111y18, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Md. MERTZ M- l. MERTZ.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. QZI I916. l ,1 91 ,605. Patented July 18, 1916.

" 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@muewtoz 'M-U-MERTZ nu; NOR/HS FEYERS cm, mww-uruo. WASHINGTUN. o c

sans GAME APPARATUS.

App1i-cation filed March 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATT J. Mnn'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at vVest Bend, in the county of Palo Alto and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in game apparatus and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character wherein an impulse is given to a projectile upon the hitting of a target.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved game apparatus including an impelling mechanism and a target operatively connected with the impelling mechanism whereby striking of the target results in the impelling mechanism imparting an impulse to a projectile.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this general character including a novel and improved impelling mechanism wherein is employed a striking member mounted for striking movement and which is placed under tension when lifted, together with means whereby the striking member is substantially automatically released from its lifted position and caused to swing downwardly under the influence of the tension imposed thereupon.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a novel and improved apparatus which may be employed in a manner somewhat similar to a baseball game and wherein a ball is automatically batted under the influence of a thrown ball and wherein a receiving member is employed and into which the batted ball is adapted to be thrown.

The invention consists in the details .of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts 'of my improved apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Serial No. 86,016.

scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein--- F gure 1 is a view in front elevation illustratlng a game apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my inventlon; Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of my device as herein embodied; Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of my invention as herein set forth; Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the longitudinal center of the device as disclosed in Fig.1;Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a vlew in top plan of the base portion of the impelling mechanism as herein disclosed; Flg. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a target constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention. As disclosed in the accompanying drawngs, T denotes the target employed in my invention as herein disclosed, M denotes the impelling mechanism and B the receiving member or base, the same being arranged substantially in alinement and in close proxim ty to each other with the impelling'mechan1sm arranged intermediate the target T and receiving member or base B. The impolling mechanism M, as herein set forth, includes the base l of predetermined configuration and resting upon the cross beams 2 arranged upon the beams 3 adapted to rest upon the ground or other supporting surface. Also secured to the beams 3 and extending above the base 1 a predetermined distance are the uprights 4 arranged in pairs at the opposite sides of the base 1 and longitudinally alined pairs of standards have their upper extremities tied or connected by the frames 5, the opposed beams 6 of which affording a guiding means for the striking member or bat S and. for which reason the opposite ends of the beams 6 are flared, as is particularly shown in detail Fig. 6. v

7 denotes an upright substantially in the form of an inverted V and bridging the base 1 and the upper frames 5, the lower ends of the arms of said upright 7 resting upon the ground or other supporting surface.

8 denotes upwardly and forwardly 'inclined beams having their upper extremities connected by the cross beam 9, and the upper end portions of the beams, 8 are connected 7 with the upper end of the upright 7 by the brace bars 10, whereby it will be perceived that a substantially rigid structure is afforded.

The cross beam 9 has secured thereto the upper end portions of the guide bars 11 which have their lower end portions resting upon the opposed beams 6 of the upper frames 5, said bars 11 being arranged on a predetermined incline and disposed in parallelism and between which the striking member or bat S is adapted to pass when moved to strike the projectile or ball 12.

The ball or projectile 12 is-adapted to be positioned upon the pedestal 14 hingedly connected, as at 15, with the base 1 and it is to be particularly noted that the pedestal 14 when in an upright position occupies the same vertical plane as the upright 7 and is positioned directly beneath the apex thereof so that the ball or projectile 12 positioned upon the pedestal 14 is arranged within the path of travel of the striking member or bat S.

Pivotally supported at the upper portion of the upright 7 is the elongated member 16 to the under face of which the striking member or bat S is suitably secured and it is to be noted that the striking member or bat S isso related relative to the member 16 as to assure the lower or free end portion of the striking member or bat S contacting with the ball or projectile 12 when said striking member is swung from a lifted position toward the pedestal 14.

17 denotes a frame extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the upright 7 and having its outer portion provided with the housing 18, the lower wall of which being provided with an opening 19 through which extend the latch members 20, said latch members 20 being pivotally mounted intermediate their length, as at 21, within the opening 19 and the lower extremities of said members 20 coact with the member 16 to hold the striking member or bat S in an elevated position, as is particularly disclosed in detail Fig. 5.

Interposed between the inner end portion of the striking member or bat S and the cross beam 9 is a retractile member 22 herein disclosed as a conventional coil spring and which, upon release of the striking member or bat S, serves to cause said member or bat to impart an impulse to the ball or projectile 12 toward the player who is standing a predetermined distance in advance of the impelling mechanism M. The forward movement of the striking member or bat S is limited by contact with the stop 23 interposed between the beams 8, as is believed to be clearly shown in the accompanying drawmgs.

The upper ends of the members 20 are operatively engaged with a flexible member 24 disposed over suitable guide pulleys 25 and secured to the upper end of an arm 26 having its intermediate portion offset, as at 27, to bridge a marginal portion of the extension 28 of the platform 29 comprised in the target structure T. The lower end of the arm 26 is weighted, as at 30, whereby it will be seen that upon the arm 26 being disengaged from the extension 28 of the platform 29, the flexible member 24 will cause the members 20 to be released from the member 16.

The table or.platform 29 is operatively supported by a post or upright 31 and hingedly connected with said post or upright 31 above the table or platform 29 and movable in a horizontal plane, is the plate 32 which, upon being swung inwardly, is adapted to contact with the arm 26 and disengage the same from the extension 28.

Suitably supported in advance of the plate 32 is a screen 33 of canvas or the like and having produced therein an opening 3 1- of an area substantially equal to the area of a home plate, as is used in the well known game of baseball.

The player who is standing a predetermined distance in advance of the impelling mechanism M, throws a ball or other projectile toward the target T with an effort to cause the ball to pass through the opening 34 and strike the plate 32 and the force of the ball will cause the plate 32 to move inwardly sufiiciently to disengage the arm 26 from the extension 28 of the table or platform 29. This release of the arm 26 will cause the striking member or bat S to impart an impulse to a ball or projectile 12 positioned upon the pedestal 14, as hereinbefore set forth. The player fields the impelled projectile or ball the same as in the game of baseball and then endeavors to throw the ball, from the point in which it is fielded or caught, within the basket or base '13, and if successful the throwing of the fielded ball within the basket scores a point. It is my purpose to play the game in a manner wherein each player throws three balls to the target per inning, whereby it will be perceived that a game may be played closely approaching baseball and wherein the player may acquire skill in fielding and in throwing.

As herein set forth, I have the post or standard 31 connected with the upright 7 through the medium of the beam 35 whereby additional rigidity is assured the uprights, and I also prefer to have the basket or base B supported by the horizontal beams 36 also secured to the upright 7 and to a post or standard 37, as indicated in the accompanying drawings, and whereby a still further rigidity to the apparatus is given.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate a slightly modified form of invention wherein two swinging plates 38 are employed in the target structure T and in this form of invention it is to be understood that the arm 26 will be positioned at the meeting edges of the plates. As this is believed to be obvious, it is thought that a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising, in comwithout material departure bination, a movable target, an impelling.

mechanism including a swinging arm,.automatic means for imparting movement to the arm in one direction, means for holding said arm against said movement, means under control of the movable target for releasing the last named means, and a projectile supporting pedestal positioned relative to the swinging arm for holding a projectile in the path of travel of said arm. I

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a striking arm, means for automatically imparting movement to said arm in one direction, releasable means coacting with the arm for holding the same against its automatic movement, a movable target, a weighted member supported adjacent the target and adapted to be released Copies of this patent may be obtained for upon movement of the target in one direction, and a connection between the weighted member and the releasable holding means for disengaging the same from the striking arm upon falling of the weight.

3. A gameapparatus comprising, in combination, a movable target, an impelling mechanism including a swinging arm, automatic means for imparting movement to the arm in one direction, means for holding said arm against said movement, means under control of the movable target for releasing the last named means, and a projectile supporting pedestal positioned relative to the swinging arm for holding a projectile in the path of travel of said arm, said pedestal being capable of swinging movement in the same general direction as the movement of the swinging arm after being released from the holding means.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a striking arm, means for automatically imparting movement to said arm in one direction, releasable means coacting with the arm for holding the same against its automatic movement, a movable target, a screen positioned in advance of the target and provided with an opening in horizontal alinement with the target, a weighted member supported adjacent the target and adapted to be released upon movement of the target in one direction, and a connection between the Weighted member and the releasable holding means for disengaging the same from the striking arm upon falling of the weight.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MATT J. MERTZ.

Washington, D. G. V 

